International Integrated Reporting Council Releases Draft Outline of the Integrated Reporting Framework

The International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) has released the Draft Outline of the Integrated Reporting Framework. The Outline establishes for the first time the basic structure of the Framework and is intended to keep stakeholders informed as the Framework is developed.

The IIRC also announces that a prototype Framework will be released by the end of 2012, with the Draft Framework being produced for public consultation in early-mid 2013 and a “version 1.0” of the Framework in late 2013.

“Integrated Reporting is a market-led initiative, driven by business and investor needs to gain greater insights into how a company’s strategy creates and preserves value over the short, medium and long-term.

The concept of ‘integration’, embedding value-relevant financial and non-financial information into strategic decision-making and a company’s reporting cycle, is gaining momentum as a vital step in the evolution of corporate reporting globally.

We are committed to a transparent process as we develop the first draft of the Framework and we welcome stakeholder thoughts on the overall structure of the Framework we set out in today’s document.

Stakeholder support for the principle of Integrated Reporting has been overwhelming, demonstrated by the responses to the IIRC’s 2011 Discussion Paper, ‘Towards Integrating Reporting – Communicating Value in the 21st Century’”.

The IIRC’s mission is to create the globally accepted Integrated Reporting (“<IR>”) framework that elicits from organizations material information about their strategy, governance, performance and prospects in a clear, concise and comparable format. The <IR> framework will underpin and accelerate the evolution of corporate reporting, reflecting developments in financial, governance, social and sustainability reporting. The IIRC will seek to secure the adoption of <IR> by report preparers and gain the recognition of standard setters and investors.

The vision is for <IR> to be accepted globally as the corporate reporting norm, benefiting organizations, their investors and other stakeholders by enabling informed decision-making that leads to efficient capital allocation and sustainable value creation in the short, medium and long-term.

The Framework will allow organizations to contribute and share their observations about factors contributing to the creation of value and embed the Framework within their own strategy.

The IIRC’s Pilot Programme, comprising over 70 organizations and 20 investors from around the globe, is designed to test the principles, content, and practical application of <IR> and develop the Framework. The Framework will help ensure consistent reporting by organizations and provide broad parameters for policymakers, regulating organizations, their investors, and other stakeholders. By enjoying access to information provided in a clear and concise manner, they will be able to make better short-and long-term decisions.

For more detailed information about the members of the Council, participants in the Pilot Programme, and the IIRC’s activities, please consult the website: http://www.theiirc.org